Device for interconnecting track shoes of a crawler

ABSTRACT

A device for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly or crawler wherein a link fixedly mounted on one of adjoining track shoes is fixedly secured to a pin, a link fixedly mounted on the other of adjoining track shoes is fixedly secured to a bush, said bush being loosely fitted to said pin, and a dished-plate spring or springs is/are interposed between the opposed faces of said adjoining links.

States Patent [1 1 Kaizaki et 211.

[ DEVICE FOR lNTERCONNECTING TRACK SHOES OF A CRAWLER [75] Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaizalki; Takeshi Kate,

both of Hirakata, Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisaliusho, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: June 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 154,010

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 15, 1971 Japan 46/7408 (utility model) [52] U.S. Cl. 305/11, 277/95 [51] Int. Cl B62d 25/00 [58] Field of Search 305/11; 277/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,376,081 4/l968 Deli 305/11 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Assistant ExaminerReinhard J. Eisenzopf Att0rneyJames E. Armstrong et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly or crawler wherein a link fixedly mounted on one of adjoining track shoes is fixedly secured to a pin, a link fixedly mounted on the other of adjoining track shoes is fixedly secured to a bush, said bush being loosely fitted to said pin, and a dishedplate spring or springs is/are interposed between the opposed faces of said adjoining links.

ll Claim, 11 Drawing Figures PNENTEU 81974 3.784.262

SHEET 1 0F 2 FIGS. l-5= PRIOR ART PTENTED 81974 3. 784. 262

sum 2 or 2 DEVICE FOR INTERCONNECTING TRACK SHOES OF A CRAWLER BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device .for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly for tractors or the like, and more particularly to an improvement of device for interconnecting links fixedly mounted on adjoining track shoes.

The interconnection of a plurality of track shoes constituting a track shoe assembly or a crawler for tractors or the like has hitherto been made, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, by disposing longitudinally track shoes 2, 2 on which links 1, l, are fixedly mounted respectively, laying adjoining ends of link 1, 1 to overlap each other, fixedly securing each end of a pin 3 to the exterior links 1 and fixedly securing a bush 4 to the interior links 1, said bush 4 being loosely fitted to said pin 3. Such devices have inherently a disadvantage that earth and sand particles or muddy water make their entry into the contact surface between the bush 4 and the pin 3 through the clearance between the links 1, 1 and that between the latter and the bush 4, causing them to wear down and corrode, consequently reducing the lifetime of track shoe assembly.

In order to eliminate such disadvantages, various kinds of devices have been employed, for example, such as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 3 shows a device wherein an antiwear rubber 6 and a sponge rubber 7 are interposed between a sleeve 4 and a link 1,, and FIG. 4 shows another device wherein antiwear dishedplate springs 8 are interposed between a sleeve 4 and a link 1,. FIG. shows a further device wherein antiwear metal plates 9 and an O' ring 10 are interposed between a sleeve 4 and a link 1,. The devices as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 have disadvantages that the material is too soft to bear the thrust exerted thereon, that is to say; the rubber becomes deteriorated in a relatively short time of use, the inner surface of the link .1, wears down in a relatively short time of use, and the replacement and assembly of parts are difficult and troublesome. The device as shown in FIG. 4 is inferior in sealing property than those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for interconnecting track shoes of a crawler, free from the above-mentioned drawbacks and capable of bearing satisfactorily the thrust exerted on the link and also using a dust seal for sealing purpose only in combination therewith.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for interconnecting track shoes of a crawler which is inexpensive and parts of which can be readily replaced and assembled when they are wornout.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device for interconnecting track shoes of a crawler capable of bearing satisfactorily the thrust exerted on the link and having an excellent sealing effect.

The device for interconnecting track shoes of a crawler according to the present invention is characterized in that a link is fixedly mounted on one of the adjoining links and is fixedly secured to a pin, a link fixedly mounted on the other of adjoining links is fixedly secured to a bush, said bush being loosely fitted to said pin, and a dished-plate spring or springs is/are interposed between the opposed faces of said adjoining links.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view part of a conventional track shoe assembly or crawler,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II II of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a fragmentary sectional view of a conventional track shoe assembly or crawler respectively, and

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 show a fragmentary sectional view of a device for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly or crawler according to the present invention respectively.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described below by way of examples with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a link 11 fixedly mounted on one of adjoining track shoes and a link 1 ll fixedly is mounted on the other adjoining track shoes. One end of a pin 13 is inserted into and fixedly secured to a hole 12 in the link 11,, and a recess 15 concentric with said hole 12 is defined by the internal surface of said link 11,. A bush 14 is fitted to said pin 13 and the end of said bush 14 is inserted into said recess 15. Said bush 14 is fitted and fixedly secured to the link 11 on the other side. Defined between the opposed face of the said links 11 and l1 are annular grooves 17, 18, in which dished-plate springs 19, 20 are inserted..The outer peripheral portions of the dished-plate springs bear against the faces 17a, 18a of the annular grooves 17, 18 respectively, and the inner peripheral portions thereof bear against each other. Thus, the thrust exerted on the link 11 is borne up by said dished-plate springs 19, 20. The dished-plate springs 19, 20 are selfsealed at their contact position, and also satisfactory seals are maintained between the dished-plate spring 19, 20 and the faces 17a, 18a of the annular grooves l7, 18 so as to prevent earth and sand particles from making their entry therein.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention which is identical in construction to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 with the exception of the dished-plate springs 19, 20 inserted within the annular groove l7, l8 bear against each other at their outer peripheral portions and the inner peripheral portions of the dished-plate springs 19, 20 bear against the faces 17a, 18a of the annular grooves 17, 18 respectively. In this case also, the thrust is borne up by the dished-plate springs 19, 20, a satisfactory sealing effect is obtained by allowing the springs to bear against to each other and also permitting the springs to bear against the face of the annular grooves.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the present invention which is identical in construction to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 except that additional annular grooves 21,22 are formed in the inner periphery of the annular grooves 17, 18 respectively, the inner peripheral portions of the dished-plate springs 19, 20 inserted within the annular grooves l7, 18 are provided with flanges23, 24 respectively, said flanges 23, 24 being forcibly fitted into respective stepped portions 25, 26, each of which being defined by the annular grooves 17, 21 and 18, 22 respectively, with the outer peripheralportions of said dished-plate springs bearing against to each other. The above-mentioned arrangement, wherein the flanges 23, 24 are forcibly fitted into respective stepped portions, prevents earth and sand particles from making their entry therein and allows the thrust to be borne up by the dished-plate springs 19,20.

FIG. 9 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention which is same identical in construction to that shown in FIG. 6 except that a piece of dished-plate spring 27 is inserted within the annular-grooves 17, 18, said dished-plate spring 27 having an inner peripheral portion bearing against the face 17a of the annular groove 17 and an outer peripheral portion bearing against the face 18a of the annular groove 18. In this case, a satisfactory seal is obtained by allowing the dished-plate spring to bear against the faces 17a, 18a of the annular grooves 17, 18.

FIG. 10 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention which is identical in construction to that shown in FIG. 9 except that a piece of dished-plate spring 27 is inserted into the annular grooves 17, 18, said dished-plate spring 27 has an inner peripheral portion bearing against the face 18a of the annular groove 18 and an outer peripheral portion bears against the face 17a of the annular groove 17.

FIG. 11 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention which is identical in construction to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 except that a dust seal 28 made of a rubber, etc., is inserted between the face 150 ofthe recess 15 formed in the inside surface of the link 11, and the end 14a of the bush 14. Thus, the thrust exerted on the link 11 is borne up by dished-plate springs 19, 20. Further, a satisfactory seal is obtained by allowing the dished-plate springs 19, to bear against to each other and also permitting said spring 19, 20 to bear against the faces 17a, 18a of the annular grooves 17, 18 respectively, so that it is possible to prevent earth and soil particles from making their entry therein. In addition, the dust seal 28 serves to prevent completely earth and sand from encroaching therein.

In the device for interconnecting a plurality of track shoes comprising a track shoe assembly according to the present invention, the thrust exerted on the link is borne up by a dished-plate spring or springs so that a dust seal can be used in combination therewith, for sealing purposes only. Further, even if the track shoe assembly is put to use for a long period of time, they are not links but dished-plate springs that wear down. Therefore, it is possible to restore the track shoe assembly or crawler into working condition only by replacing worn-out dished-plate spring or springs, thereby reducing running cost and facilitating reassembly of the crawler.

Furthermore, the dished-plate springs are pressed against the links to maintain a sealing relationship therebetween, which is doubled by the function of the dust seal used in combination therewith, thereby insuring that the device serving as a sealing means will maintain its function for an extended period of time.

What we claim is:

l. A device for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly, characterized by that said device includes a plurality of track shoes, each having a link fixedly secured thereto, a pin fixedly secured to a link fixedly mounted on one of said adjoining track shoes, a bush loosely fitted to said pin and fixedly secured to a link fixedly mounted on the other of said adjoining track shoes, a first set of annular grooves defined between opposing link faces, at least two springs interposed between the opposed faces of said links, said springs having outer portions in direct engagement with one another, and a second set of annular grooves formed on the inner periphery of said first set wherein the springs are comprised of two dish-plate springs which are the seal members and said springs are interposed in said first set of annular grooves with flanges extending from said springs into said second set of annular grooves, with the inner portion of the springs spaced from the link faces, whereby the thrust of force is received by the springs. 

1. A device for interconnecting track shoes of a track shoe assembly, characterized by that said device includes a plurality of track shoes, each having a link fixedly secured thereto, a pin fixedly secured to a link fixedly mounted on one of said adjoining track shoes, a bush loosely fitted to said pin and fixedly secured to a link fixedly mounted on the other of said adjoining track shoes, a first set of annular grooves defined between opposing link faces, at least two springs interposed between the opposed faces of said links, said springs having outer portions in direct engagement with one another, and a second set of annular grooves formed on the inner periphery of said first set wherein the springs are comprised of two dishplate springs which are the seal members and said springs are interposed in said first set of annular grooves with flanges extending from said springs into said second set of annular grooves, with the inner portion of the springs spaced from the link faces, whereby the thrust of force is received by the springs. 